Another Indian Air Force type withdrawn from use and this time it is the MiG-27ML, which flew its final mission on 28 December 2017 from Hasimara AFS. Though the last MiG-27ML has been retired, they are not the last swing wing aircraft in service. #avgeek Photo via Hans van Herk pic.twitter.com/tXCY1T0hfP

December 28, 2017

[VIDEO]: Qatar Joint Special Force Turkish made armored vehicles NMS and EJDER YALÇIN during National Day military parade .. Qatar will buy 400 EJDER YALÇIN and 100 NMS .. any idea about the missiles over first 2 NMS vehicles? pic.twitter.com/SihaA2s11W

An unknown ballistic missile (most likely Russian) or satellite flying over North of Iran was spotted by citizens of Tabriz, Orumiyeh, and Sanandaj minutes ago. #IRIADF Iranian Air Defense Force is now studying the case. pic.twitter.com/Jm263LoDer

A Long March-2C (长征二号丙) rocket launched the third group of three Yaogan-30 (遥感三十号) remote sensing satellites from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan province, on 25 December 2017, at 19:44 UTC (03:44 local time). According to official sources, the satellites entered their preset orbit.

December 26, 2017

RTAF demonstrates the LITENING pod along with the GBU-12 laser-guided bomb on board the Gripen fighter during the air operation demonstration in the annual Aerial Weaponry Competition. The LITENING pod was ordered for the Gripen at the same time with the Sniper AT that would be equipped on F-16.

LITENING is a high-performance targeting pod that capable to equip on board various platform. It is reported that RTAF has 6 pods on their inventory.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will soon be able to protect the country’s coasts with a wider range, following the start of construction of three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).

The keel of vessels, the Damen 1800-class designed in the Netherlands, were laid at the TH Heavy Engineering (THEE) Berhad shipyard at the Pulau Indah Industrial Park and will be completed at the cost of RM740 million.

MMEA director-general Admiral (M) Datuk Zulkifli Abu Bakar told Malay Mail the vessels are a “game changer” and would help the agency cope with the myriad of threats in the country’s waters.

“We have 256 assets at our disposal including ships and aircraft but these are insufficient for monitoring and enforcement of the country’s 614,158 sq km territorial waters.

“This is why there has to be a constant flow of new and capable assets to maintain the ability for force projection beyond the shallows of our coasts,” he said.

Zulkifli added that most patrol vessels operated by the agency are over 30-years-old and do not have the “endurance” or operational range for sustained operations.

“The most critical element is that our assets lack the ability to persist at sea due to their short or limited operational range. This will change with the delivery of the new OPVs,” he said.

“The wide variety of challenges we have to cope with from illegal fishing to human trafficking and illegal sand mining and general encroachment of our waters requires flexible multi-mission craft with long operational ranges.”

THHE had prior to this built six of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s New Generation Patrol Craft.

Measuring 83 metres long and nearly 14 metres wide the OPVs are able to conduct three-week patrols at a time and pack an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in addition to their on-board 30 mm SMASH Remote Controlled Stabilised Naval Gun manufactured in Turkey.

With a top speed of 21 knots, the vessels will be able to conduct operations up to the limits of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, making them effective against illegal fishing vessels that typically skirt the maritime border.

They carry a crew of 70 with room for 20 passengers or suspects and are equipped with Fast Interceptor Craft for boarding inspections and search and medical facilities for rescue operations.

Ahead of schedule, Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the initial equipment of an Australian-designed and manufactured battlespace communications solution for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), a major milestone for a system that will transform how the Australian military communicates in the field.

Under the AUD$650 million contract for the ADF’s Project Currawong, Boeing Defence Australia (BDA), a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, achieved Initial Material Release for the transit case version of its networked communications solution. The system transfers secure wideband voice, data and video services over wireless and wired infrastructure between Australia’s land-based deployed forces and headquarters.

BDA Vice President and Managing Director Darren Edwards said the initial delivery ahead of schedule to the Commonwealth of Australia proved Boeing’s ability and agility in supporting the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

“Boeing’s success in creating the hardware and software that meets Australia’s battlespace communications needs within a complex fixed price development program is testament to our partnership with our customer as well as our growing Australian supply chain supporting this important capability,” said Edwards.

Boeing has provided defence personnel from 7th Combat Signal Regiment and 1 Signal Regiment based at Enoggera Barracks and 1 Combat Communications Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley with training and equipment deliveries to use the system ahead of Exercise Hamel in 2018.

This first tranche of the equipment delivered includes 18 deployable communication nodes and an Australian fixed strategic communications anchor site. This incorporates Boeing’s core communication system components, the network access module (NAM) and mission system management (MSM), which connect and manage the communication bearers and services Boeing and its partners are bringing to the program.

Boeing will also design a vehicle mounted version of the solution in parallel with the ongoing rollout of the transit case version to additional Army and Air Force units.

The Royal Thai Army has released pictures of its recently delivered Norinco-made VT4 main battle tanks (MBT) during live-fire military exercise.

Since that time, the Royal Thai Army has received the first batch of 28 VT4 main battle tanks (MBT) produced by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). The procurement of the 28 Chinese tanks was approved early last year.

According to Bangkok Post, the tanks were commissioned at the 3rd Cavalry Division at the Prem Tinsulanonda Military Camp in Khon Kaen’s Nam Phong after the completion of the inspection.

VT4 is a Chinese third generation main battle tank built by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) for overseas export. It is an upgraded variant of the MBT2000 (VT-1) and the latest tank model from the Type 90-II tank family.